Waste condensation tube and stoplight warning device



Jan. 16, 1962 G. s. FORTNEY 3,0 ,888

WASTE CONDENSATION TUBE AND STOPLIGHT WARNING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 27, 1960 INVENTOR.

W2 BY Jan. 16, 1962 G. s. FORTNEY 3,016,888

WASTE CONDENSATION TUBE AND STOPLIGHT WARNING DEVICE Filed Oct. 27. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Unite States Patent 3,016,888 WASTE CONDENSATION TUBE AND STOP- LIGHT WARNING DEVICE Grant S. Fortney, 7458 Kingston Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Get. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 65,415 8 Claims. (Cl. 123-119) This invention relates to vacuum operated crank case ventilators for use with vehicle engines in combination with a stoplight warning device operable by a switch as sociated with the accelerator pedal of the vehicle.

In the patent to Baumheckel, No. 2,824,921, a stoplight warning device associated with the accelerator pedal of a vehicle is broadly illustrated and in my copending application Serial No. 830,068, which has matured into Patent No. 2,971,505, dated February 14, 1961, a fluid mechanical action crank case ventilator and waste condensation tube is shown. This invention combines these structures and it has been found that for best results neither should be operating while the other is operating. In other words, while the accelerator pedal switch is depressed, and the circuit therethrough thereby broken, the stoplights are cit and the ventilator and waste condensation tube is operating, but when pressure on the accelerator pedal is released and the switch thereon thereby closed, the stoplights are illuminated and the ventilator and waste condensation tube is closed. This is accordingly the principal object of my invention.

The object is accomplished by installing a normally closed solenoid valve in the ventilator and waste condensation tube, which valve opens the tube when the accelerator switch is open, and closes the tube when the accelerator switch is closed, in which position the stoplights are also on.

In other words, the stoplights are illuminated when there is no foot pressure on the accelerator pedal to open the accelerator switch, and in this position the solenoid valve is not energized and therefore the condensation tube is closed. When there is pressure on the accelerator pedal sufiicient to open the pedal switch, the solenoid valve is therefore energized and in an open position and stoplights are out.

Involved in the invention is the structure shown in Patent 2,822,441 on a combination covered and protected switch mechanism on the accelerator pedal of a vehicle, which switch mechanism is operated by release of pressure on the accelerator pedal whereby the circuit therethrough to the stoplights of the vehicle is completed,- thereby illuminating said lights at the rear of the vehicle.

Also involved in the invention is a fluid mechanical action crank case ventilator and waste condensation tube, such as shown in my copending application Ser. No. 830,068, one end of which is connected to the crank case via the oil dip stick thereto and the other end is connected to the intake manifold, so that suction therefrom draws oil fumes and condensation from the crank case and transports same into the intake manifold.

To assure that the waste condensation tube is closed when the accelerator pedal switch is closed, a solenoid or other electrically operated valve is interposed in the condensation tube, the same being operably connected to the accelerator pedal switch, so that the valve will open when the accelerator pedal switch is open and vice versa, thus controlling flow in the tube only when the accelerator pedal switch is open.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawing forming part of this application and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of a combined stoptor pedal is shown at 44, the same being formed of reice light warning switch and crank case ventilator and waste condensation tube embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of a waste condensation tube controlled by a solenoid valve actuated by an accelerator pedal switch.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the solenoid valve and portion of the waste condensation tube.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows the operation of the device in association with vehicle stoplights, brake pedal application of by draulic switch to independently illuminate the stoplights, accelerator pedal switch to also illuminate the stoplights and simultaneously control operation of a solenoid valve to close flow in a waste condensation tube from crank case to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.

it) indicates a standard brake fluid pressure switch which is connected with the usual stoplights 12 and 14 which are grounded as customary. Brake switch 10 is connected by Wire 22 through fuse i6 and ignition switch 18 to battery 24 which is also grounded. It is well known that when there is an increase in the pressure of the brake line, switch it) closes the circuit through wire 31 to the stoplights, illuminating the same and thus warning the driver of a following vehicle that the vehicle is slowing down or possibly coming to a full stop. This action of the lights 12 and 14 occurs when the operator applies brakes, and there is always a fraction of a second between the time the operator moves his foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal. In an emergency situation, that fraction of a second can be the cause of a rear end collision.

This is the usual brake pedal actuated stoplight warning silient material which provides a sleeve action and completely covers the switch 24 and that part of the pedal with which it is associated by being fixed thereto in any desired manner. The switch and cover can be furnished as original equipment by the vehicle manufacturer or supplied as an accessory for application to the pedal by the vehicle owner. In either event the ball of the operator's foot presses down on the cover which in turn depresses one of the switch points away from the other, thereby breaking the circuit through the switch. The switch structure is of spring material and biased in closed position so that when the operators foot is raised the switch points engage each other.

and the stoplights are-on. Wire 26 leads from the ignition switch 18 to one connector 28 of the accelerator pedal switch. From the other connector 30, wire 32 leads to one pole 34. of hydraulic switch 10. Also COI1I16C- tor 30 is connected by wire 36 to one pole of the electrically operated solenoid valve 38, mounted on the engine indicated at 40. The other pole of solenoid valve 38 is connected by wire 42 to wire 26 between the accelerator pedal switch connector 28 and the ignition switch 18. The solenoid valve draws fewer amperes than that of the stoplights.

A waste condensation tube 50 is shown as connected at one end to the crank case via the dip stick 52 of the motor, and at the other end to the intake manifold 54. The tube 59 passes through the solenoid valve, which controls flow through the tube. Briefly, this tube 50 comprises a series of alternate chambers and small openings therebetween, through which the vapors from the crank case must pass to the intake manifold, when the solenoid valve is open.

This valve has a very small opening therethrough, which is-opened and'closed by the action of the valve, and thus the valve itself becomes a part of the condensation tube. The solenoid valve 38 operates only when both the accelerator pedal switch and the brake pedal switch are open, and the total resistance of the stoplights is small enough to allow sufficient current to flow through the solenoid valve coil to cause actuation of the valve 38, thereby opening the waste condensation tube 50 allowing the oil vapors and condensation from the crank case to pass therethrough to the intake manifold.

The fluid mechanical structure of the waste condensation tube 50 is illustrated, described, and claimed in my aforementioned application Ser. No. 830,068 and therefore will not be specifically described here. When the ignition switch 18 is turned on, and the accelerator pedal switch 24 is closed, the battery current will pass by wire 26 to and through the closed accelerator switch and there from by wire 36 to the solenoid valve. Also, wire 32 conducts current from the accelerator pedal switch to contact 34 of hydraulic switch and wire 31 to the stoplights 12 and 14. Thus when the ignition switch 18 is on, and the accelerator pedal switch is closed, the stoplights are on and the total resistance of the stoplights does not allow enough current to flow through the solenoid valve coil to actuate the valve. Then when the motor is started and the accelerator pedal is depressed by the operator to move the car, the accelerator pedal switch is then opened, which breaks the circuit to the stoplights and allows current to flow to the solenoid valve exclusively allowing it to open and permit passage of waste condensation to the intake manifold.

Then when the operator lifts his foot slightly away from the accelerator pedal, the points of the switch 24 associated therewith will instantly close, causing the solenoid valve to close passage through tube 50 and also energize the stoplights. Thus it is seen that the energization of the lamps 12 and 14 and solenoid valve takes effect instantly there is a change in the position of the foot of the operator in a direction away from the accelerator pedal. This occurs without any necessity of shifting the foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal.

In this manner when the engine is idling, or when the vehicle is coming to a stop with foot otf the accelerator pedal, the waste condensation line is closed, thus providing adequate vacuum for the the engine at decelerating or idling speeds. It is only when the foot is resting on top of accelerator pedal that the waste condensation line is open from the crank case to the intake manifold through the solenoid valve.

In some instances the waste condensation tube will be installed independently of the usual brake pedal stoplight warning system. In this case a normally open solenoid valve is used and the circuit shown in FIG. 2 is used, and wire 32 will be omitted. The accelerator pedal switch will then actuate the solenoid valve as before described independently of stoplight circuit.

From the above description it is believed clear how the device operates.

I claim:

1. The combination with a pedal for a motor vehicle crank case to the intake manifold of the motor of said vehicle, of a switch associated with said pedal and operable by an operators foot in actuating the pedal, an electrically operated valve controlling flow in said tube, an electric circuit interconnecting said pedal switch, valve, and stoplights, said pedal switch simultaneously controlling said valve and said stoplights.

2. The combination with a pedal for a motor vehicle having a waste condensation tube from the crank case to the intake manifold of the motor of said vehicle, of a switch associated with said pedal and operable by an operator's foot in actuating the pedal, an electrically operated valve controlling fiow in said tube, an electric circuit interconnecting said pedal switch and valve, said pedal switch controlling said valve.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said crank case is provided with a dip stick opening and the connection of said tube to the crank case is via the dip stick opening.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said tube comprises alternate small openings and expansion chambers, and wherein the connection of said tube to said valve is through a small opening, whereby the valve connection is a part of the waste condensation tube.

5. The combination with a pedal for a motor vehicle, of a switch associated with said pedal and operable by an operators foot in actuating said pedal, a protecting cover for said switch and pedal, said cover comprising a tread portion of resilient material, and said cover being fixed to said pedal, means conducting waste from the crank case to the intake manifold of the motor of said vehicle, a valve controlling flow of waste in said means, and means interconnecting said pedal and said valve, whereby actuation of said pedal controls flow in said waste conducting means.

6. The combination with a pedal for a motor vehicle having a waste condensation tube conected to the intake manifold, of a switch associated with said pedal and operable by an operators foot in actuating the pedal, an electrically operated valve controlling flow in said tube, an electric circuit interconnecting said pedal and switch and valve, said switch controlling said valve.

7. The combination with a pedal of a motor vehicle, having a waste condensation tube connected to the intake manifold of said motor, of switch means associated with said pedal and operable by an operators foot in actuating the pedal, valve means controlling flow in said tube, and means interconnecting said pedal switch means and valve means, said pedal switch means controlling said valve.

8. The combination with a pedal of a motor vehicle having a waste condensation tube connected to the intake manifold of said motor, of valve means controlling flow in said tube, means interconnecting said pedal and valve means, whereby actuation of said pedal controls flow in said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,824,921 Baumheckel Feb. 25, 1958 

